ATLANTA — Leaning against a railing near the court, Jimmy King watched as the Louisville Cardinals cut down the nets after their thrilling national championship game victory against Michigan on Monday night at the Georgia Dome.

The former Fab Five star’s thoughts, though, were with the players from his alma mater.

“They have nothing to be ashamed about,” he told Sporting News as ‘One Shining Moment’ played overhead. “They can always hold their head high. They’re still champions. They may not have the hardware, but regardless, they’re still champions.”

King was talking about the 2013 Michigan Wolverines. At least, he probably was talking about this year’s team. The similarities between the events of Monday night and the way King’s first two seasons at Michigan ended—losses in the 1992 and 1993 national championship games—were impossible to miss.

He would have suited up Monday if they would have let him. Instead, he watched the game while wearing a suit. “I wanted to win,” King said. “I wanted to win so bad, just to feel it, to have that feeling and to be in this atmosphere when they did it.”

All five members of the Fab Five were at the game: King, Ray Jackson, Jalen Rose, Juwan Howard and, yes, even Chris Webber. King said he didn’t know whether Webber—the most talented and most infamous member of that culture-changing team—was coming until about 20 minutes before he arrived. The most famous basketball team in Michigan history was treated to an incredible effort from the Wolverines’ players, an effort that certainly would have produced a national championship if they would have played anyone other than this Louisville team.

“It was one of the best games I’ve ever seen,” King said.

Trey Burke performed like the national player of the year. Despite playing just 26 minutes because of foul trouble, the future lottery pick scored 24 points—on 7-of-11 shooting—had four rebounds, three assists, three made 3-pointers and a block. Seventeen of those points came in the second half.

“You can’t ever question his will to win, his leadership ability and his talent,” King said. “This kid is the real deal.”

Clearly hurting from the loss, Burke was noncommittal about his future after the game. Most indications, though, are that he’ll leave Michigan and head to the NBA. He’s a first-round lock, and very likely a lottery pick; his performance Monday certainly didn’t hurt his draft stock.

The Michigan brand, though, is back. This was the Wolverines’ first trip back to the Final Four since those consecutive trips in the ’90s, and even with potential NBA losses, there will be plenty of talent returning to Ann Arbor this fall. And, three four-star recruits (as rated by Rivals.com)—point guard Derrick Walton, shooting guard Zakarie Irvin and power forward Mark Donnal—are in the fold.

Coach John Beilein might even have enough talent to prompt another Fab Five reunion next April.

“It was great. I wish we could do it more often,” King said with a wistful look in his eyes. “I hope we can do it next year again. Michigan has a great recruiting class, and I’m sure we’ll have some great returning stars. This is school pride.”